Shouts in the Night
The heroes are ninjas of the Kakemetsu Clan, hired to assassinate the Lord Kuganara Daijo. But when they infiltrate the Kuganara Castle, they find that there is more to this than there seems to be.
Kuganara Daijo was once on top of the world. He and his province, Yamatashi, once enjoyed premier status among the lands of the Shogunate. At it's peak of power, Yamatashi province commanded assets of millions of koku of rice, and Kuganara Daijo had the loyalty of three-hundred thousand ashigaru and nine-hundred samurai. But that all ended with the accusation. Called out on charges of demon worship by the Enlightened Order, Kuganara Daijo suddenly became an outcast among the people he ruled, and he fell from the favor of the Shogun. The investigation, carried out by agents of the All-Seeing Eye, took four arduous months, and, to the obvious displeasure of the Enlightened Order, turned up nothing. Yet stains are hard to wash away, and the stigma of the Order's accusation stayed with the daimyo. Finally, Kuganara, depressed and holed up in his fortress of Kuganara Castle, brought the Shogun to his wit's end, and he ordered that Kuganara Daijo be killed. Thus was the Kakemetsu ninja clan contacted. Given suitable pay by the messengers from the All-Seeing Eye, the heroes, Kakemetsu ninjas, have been dispatched under light of the full moon to the daimyo's castle. As they enter, it is obvious that something is not normal in this castle. Guards lie strewn and bloody across the courtyard, and pools of blood adorn the floors. The inner chambers of the castle are torn to pieces, and Kuganara Daijo is nowhere to be found. Supernatural undead beings roam the castle, it's grounds, and the bamboo forests surrounding it. In the basement, the heroes find a bizzare summoning circle and the ripped apart remains of a woman in a white robe and the katana and armor of Kuganara Daijo.
NOTES
-Ashigaru: Peasantry converted to foot soldiers for the daimyo
-Samurai: Warrior nobles
-All-Seeing Eye: The spy network/'CIA' of the Shogunate
-The Shogunate: The feudal government set up by the Shogun
-Shogun: Ruler-general of the Shogunate
-Enlightened Order: The religious order of the Shogunate, espousing beliefs of spirits, demons, and reincarnation.
-Remember, Japanese style names have the last name first.
THE REAL STORY
The Enlightened Order, frustrated with it's failure at it's plan (To remove Kuganara Daijo and place an Enlightened Order puppet in his place.) has failed, has resorted to framing Kuganara, summoning a demon in his basement and releasing it on the castle to make it look like Kuganara himself has done it.
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? Responses (13)
Have you played L5R or Bushido?
The reason I am asking is have you ever tried to play all Ninja game? There is a reason that most Nipponese fantasy games suggest you don't. It becomes a difficult game to play because you are entirely outside the social norm of Nippon and you have to contend with all the Ninja special abilities and tech.
A good plot for a story or book though....
Bah!
Yes. I have played L5R. I prefer all-ninja Nipponese style games, because the players can act slightly outside the reigns of normal Nipponese-style behavior, as apposed to the strict social mores of being a samurai.
Have you run one?
Yes, I have.
I must admit, it did get a little out of hand, but that was my fault.
Perhaps, the Enlightened Order used him to host a possession. The demon summoned actually changed his physical form, leaving his armor and clothes tattered and breaking his bondage.
Mindlessly, the perpretraitors fled the scene leaving objects to be found and maybe a character(s) outside the Enlightened Order- that performed the ritual- died at the scene. The objects would be candles, incense, a dagger, and the crest of a secret religious sect tattooed into their skin- a five headed dragon. All are colored with the first head on the left being red and the second brown, while on the far right is a brown and white head. The middle one would be multicolored, mixing the colors of the others into this one.
The fallen perps would also be wearing silk with a specific design used in a region located fifty miles away.
Interesting...
Wow.
I think we can all say that anybody is capable of progress. Practice is what makes perfect, and I am a perfect example.
i am quite impressed that you have kept this one around and not deleted it. The "wow" was referring to that this is from 03. Amazing!
I like it.
An interesting turn of events - to be on such a mission and finding the work had already been done. Do you take credit, investigate, or what :)
Very great. Loved reading it.
Very great. Loved reading it.